Christmas-tree holder



May 28, 1929- A. P. DANNER cHRIs'rms TREE HOLDER Filed Majrch 14, 1927 INVENTOR. *v Jllbert PDanner ATT RNEYS.

Patented May 28, 1929. Y

' [UNITED STATES -,ALBERT P. BANNER, OF BRIDGEPOR-T, CONNECTICUT..

CHRISTMAS-TREE HOLDER,

Application filedMarch 14 1927."Se,ria1 No., 175 ,147.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in stands or holders for Christmas trees, flag staffs or other objects which it is desired to hold 5 tion. V i

For its objects the invention has the providing of a holder or stand for the purpose stated which is readily foldable and thus made portable which employsa minimum number of different parts; which may be employed equally well with heavy or light objects;v which more tightly engages anobject the heavier it is; and which since it employs a minimum number of different parts may be manufactured atlow cost.

An additional object is to provide a holder of. the character stated which is'selfoperating as to grasping an articleplaced .in it and which will readily release such article when the same is withdrawn in the usual manner.

A further object which will automatically adjust itself to receive and hold vertically tree trunks, flag staffs orthe like of different diameters. With the foregoing andother objects View, as will become apparent as the dein a vertical posiscription proceeds, the invention resides in' certain novel features of'constructiomcombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. P

In said drawing I Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my holder showing the same in operative position, a fragment of a tree-trunk, staff or. the like being shown in dotted lines to make clearthe operation; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the holder with the parts-in folded positionyand Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the parts in operative position ready to receive an object to be supported.

Referring to the drawing, wherein the reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews, the holder has three equally spaced supporting legs, each indicated by the numeral 5. These legs are 'of' identical shape and construction. By having. the legs all duplicate I cansecure quantity production at small initial tool cost.

In this connection it is pointed out that while I-have shown and described but three supporting legs this is only by way of ex ample since any number more than three is to provide a holder 'may be used if desired. However, in practice I find three legs to be sufficient.

' In additionto the legs .5 the holder. includes a. sectional pivoting orfretaining ring or member shown as made up of three idcnti- Y cal sectlons 6.. Pivotally mounted between the acent out-turned ends 7 of the sections, v on the r vets, bolts orthe like 8 connecting such ends, are identical biting, or gripping, supporting members 9, of which three are shown. The upper and lower end portions 'ofmernbers 9 are inclined inwardly as shownv for a purpose tobe described. The upper -endsof members 9 areflsharpened or pointed I as at 10 to bite or dig into the tree trunk or the'like. Somewhat similarly and for the same purpose the lower ends of said members are sharpened to. provide the knifelikeportionsll. j I r I For the purpose of economy and simplification the upper ends of legs 5 are pivoted on the rivets 8.

The lower ends of the legs are curved outwardly to provide groundengaging or foot portions 12. hen. the parts are in the 'POSIlJlOIlS shown in Figs.- 1 and 2 and weight, as a Christmas tree, is

placed on the holderthe legs 5 tend to spread I and turn about their pivots. l is prevented byengagement of the upper end portions 13 of the'l'egs with the portions of the ring sections G'immediately adjacent to the outturned ends '7.

Such action 9 l/Vhilethe members 9 are pivoted between ,the ends-of sections 6, the legs 5 are pivoted to the outsldeof said sections; Owing to this arrangement movement of the; legs about the rivets will not cause similar movement of members 9 and vice versa. e

'It'is'b'elieved the operation of the holder will be apparent without further description. However-, it is pointed out that, with the holder positioned'on the floor. for in-' stance and with its legs spread asin Figs.

1 and 3, the tree trunksuggested at 14, will,

upon being lowered between members 9 first strike the knife-like portionsflll thereof;

This will cause the members to move about their plvots and the sharpened upper ends 10 will engage the trunk. Further clownward movement of the trunk will cause the portions 10 and 11 to further bite and cut into it and the greater the weight or force tree in tree trunk. Moreover since these members are free of the legs the tree may be more readily withdrawn from the holder. This is true since thebiting action dies not take place owing to the tendenc-yof the legs to spread. Further with the biting portions inclining upwardly as shown there is praetically no. resistance tomovement of the tree out of the holder by a movement longitudinally away from the latter.

A holder such as I have invented is used only at stated intervals and hence it is desirable that it be folded into a small space for storage. This is provided for in the present instance since the legs 5 may be tolded toward each other to provide a compact structure as shown in Fig. 2.

,These parts may be of cold rolled steel.

Although the invention has been shown and described in detail reference must be had to the annexed claims for a definition of its limitations; V

. hat is claimed is j 1. In a tree or sta'l'i holder, supporting legs, a retaining ring, means pivoting said legs to the retaining ring at equally spaced points, tree or staff engaging members piv oted to said retaining ring at spaced points and having portions to engage and bite into said tree or statl', and said engaging mem bers being movable independently .of said legs.

2. In a tree or staff holder a retainin i 3 ring, said ring comprising'at least three arcuate sections having their ends oifset, means connecting ad acent ends of said sections, gripping members arranged between said adjacent ends and pivotally mounted on said connecting means and projecting above and below said ring, supporting legs pivotally mounted on said connecting means independent of said gripping members, and said ring acting as a stop to limit turning movement of said legs on their pivots.

8. In a tree or stafi holder, a retaining ring, said ring comprising at least three arcuate sections having outturned ends, means connecting adjacent ends of said sections, gripping members arranged between said adjacent ends and pivotally mounted on said connecting means, said members having angularly disposed arms projecting above and below the ring and positioned to engage an elongated article placed within the ring, said members liaving their upper and lower ends sharpened to bite into such article, and supporting legs pivoted on said connecting means and limited in their pivotal movement by engagement with said ring. I

4c. In a tree or staff holder, aretaining ring consisting of at least three identical sections, means connecting. the ends of said sections, at least three identical supporting legs for said ring, said legs pivoted to the connecting means, and at least three identical tree or staff engaging members pivoted on said connecting means in positions to engagea tree or staff placed within the holder, said engaging members being movableindependently of said legs.

5. In a tree holder, a retaining member, grippingmembers pivoted on said retaining member at equally spaced points and having end portions extending above and below said ALBERT DANNER. 

